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This study aims to investigate the interrelationships between lean production, green technology adoption, green product innovation, social sustainability performance and green competitiveness. The study further investigates the mediation roles of green technology adoption and green product innovation between lean production systems, social sustainability performance and green competitiveness.

The quantitative research approach is used for the study. Data for the study is garnered from 197 managers of manufacturing firms in Ghana via a self-administered questionnaire. Structural equation modeling, specifically partial least square is applied as the methodological tool to test all hypotheses.

Results of the study suggest that lean production systems have a significant positive impact on green technology adoption, green product innovation and green competitiveness. However, lean production systems are found to have an insignificant impact on social performance. The results further confirm the mediation roles of both green technology adoption and green product innovation between lean production systems, social sustainability performance and green competitiveness; thus indicating that lean production systems create an efficient condition for firms to adopt green technologies and produce innovative green-based products to leverage superior social sustainability performance and green competitiveness.

This study proposes and develops a comprehensive research model that is supported by the natural resource-based view theory to investigate the link between lean production systems, green technology adoption, green product innovation, social sustainability performance and green competitiveness from an emergent country perspective.

The study aims to draw lessons from other countries and propose a framework for developing smart libraries in transformation in South Africa. The framework will be useful to policymakers and scholars in library and information science.

This study used a qualitative approach based on a systematic literature review and the researchers’ experience concerning the transformation of smart libraries in South Africa. The researchers selected databases to access full-text, abstract or full-text linking facilities. The researchers generated the study’s literature review using keywords derived from themes. The keywords used include “smart libraries,” “functions of smart libraries” and “smart library infrastructure,” based on the objectives of the study.

The findings reveal that developing smart libraries in South Africa is feasible, but all stakeholders must cooperate and collaborate to create smart libraries. The findings of this study show that South Africa can draw lessons from other countries on the way forward in developing smart libraries. The results indicate that lack of funding, digital infrastructure and technical skills are among the factors inhibiting the development of smart libraries.

The issue of smart libraries has become a key on the agenda on a global scale, and South Africa is no exception to such developments. This study proposes a framework for developing smart libraries based on lessons learned within and outside South Africa.

The purpose of this paper is to deploy an alternative way, drawing upon research in service innovation, to predict service delivery innovation from the extents of market and technology orientations and innovative competence.

Five hypotheses were proposed. A two-part questionnaire was developed. One part of the questionnaire was completed by the sales manager and the other part by the marketing manager of select companies. The questionnaires were distributed to 533 information technology companies in Taiwan. Of the 533 questionnaires returned, 160 questionnaires were deemed usable. This study uses the partial least square analysis to test the hypotheses.

Proactive market orientation and technology orientation affect exploratory and exploitative innovative competences; but, only exploitative innovation competence affects service delivery innovation.

The findings indicate that managers need to understand the market trends and the technology availability and be able to customize corresponding service/product features which can further lead to stimulate exploitative innovative competence and facilitate service delivery innovation.

The paper is among the first attempts to examine how market and technology orientations affect innovative competence and service delivery innovation. In addition, this study provides the explanatory variance missing in the literature that has not examined the black box relationship between market and technology orientations and service delivery innovation.

Briefly reviews previous literature by the author before presenting an original 12 step system integration protocol designed to ensure the success of companies or countries in their efforts to develop and market new products. Looks at the issues from different strategic levels such as corporate, international, military and economic. Presents 31 case studies, including the success of Japan in microchips to the failure of Xerox to sell its invention of the Alto personal computer 3 years before Apple: from the success in DNA and Superconductor research to the success of Sunbeam in inventing and marketing food processors: and from the daring invention and production of atomic energy for survival to the successes of sewing machine inventor Howe in co‐operating on patents to compete in markets. Includes 306 questions and answers in order to qualify concepts introduced.

This study aims to investigate the influence of smart technologies on SMEs sustainability and to measure the mediation effect of SMEs’ sustainability strategy in the relationship between smart technologies and SMEs’ sustainable performance in the Kingdom of Bahrain. The sustainability concept for the purpose of this study includes environmental sustainability, social sustainability and profitability factors.

The study applied the quantitative analysis method. The sample size was 403 small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from Bahrain.

The study concludes that smart technology has a major effect on profitability performance, among other sustainable performance factors. In addition, there is no mediation effect of “SMEs’ sustainability strategy”. The study has recommended improving SMEs’ participation in sustainable development principles by considering supportive global initiatives to “Net Zero Roadmap 2050”, increasing the demand for using technologies and including academic “sustainability” concepts in academic programs.

This study contributes significantly to Bahrain’s economic growth by studying the proactive and innovative methods for increasing SMEs’ efficiency. Furthermore, it adds value to Bahrain’s national economy by investigating the role of SMEs and its strategic practices by implementing smart businesses towards developing business empowerment in Bahrain’s economic vision for 2030 and meeting SDGs regionally and globally.

The role of public procurement as an instrument to stimulate innovation has been increasingly emphasized by European policymakers. This perspective raises demand for the understanding of public procurement as an activity taking place in a variety of different procurement contexts and as an act of innovation. Accordingly, this paper proposes a taxonomy of public procurement and innovation, combining interactive learning and evolutionary perspectives on innovation processes to account for the broad range of different ‘interaction environments’ or ‘resource interfaces’ in which government or public sector organizations may act as lead users of innovations. On this basis, the taxonomy draws practical policy implications for the design of programmes and initiatives for the public procurement of innovations.

The purpose of this study is to explore the challenges hindering the adoption of Industry 4.0 (I4.0) among construction companies.

The construction industry needs innovative technologies due to its complex and dynamic nature. In this respect, the latest trends such as digitalization, building information modeling (BIM), Internet of things (IoT) are of utmost importance in terms of fostering the change in managing projects and encouraging industry practitioners to adopt the change for better performance. This paper focuses on I4.0adoption among construction companies. In this respect, a questionnaire was designed and administered to construction professionals to reveal the challenges in I4.0 adoption among construction firms. The respondents were requested to fill in the questionnaire on the I4.0 efforts of their companies. The questionnaire was intended to collect the perceptions of industry practitioners working at large construction companies. Based on these, the challenges listed were ranked based on their relative importance and success indices. Finally, the Mann–Whitney U test was conducted to test whether statistically significant responses exist among groups of respondents (i.e. young and old companies, large and small, high and low revenue and main area of expertise).

The results of the study indicated that resistance to change, unclear benefits and gains and cost of implementation are the major important challenges in terms of I4.0 adoption in construction projects. On the other hand, the data analysis implied that the majority of construction organizations successfully deal with the problems arising from lack of standardization, legal and contractual issues and cost of implementing in terms of promoting I4.0 adoption.

The study is expected to guide construction practitioners in terms of benefitting from I4.0 applications and deliver projects with better outcomes. This study might be used as a guide for the companies aiming to start their I4.0 transformation knowing the challenges and develop strategies for how to handle them. A concrete plan would help them achieve greater performance and benefit from the I4.0 implementation at the maximum level. Finally, the study implies that construction firms shall prepare action plans for handling each challenge listed and monitor their performance based on the planned and actual data of their projects.

This study investigates the major challenges of I4.0 among construction companies. This is one of the important studies, which puts I4.0 focus forefront of the construction industry with a clear identification of challenges that construction organizations have to address to transform their organizations into construction 4.0. The study has the potential to guide both industry practitioners and researchers to develop awareness for the benefits of using the latest technology and fostering innovation. This is expected to create value for construction clients in terms of achieving the product with serious gains such as time and cost.

Consumers today actively participate in online purchasing experiences. As a result, it is critical to comprehend the behavioral aspects of novel technology usage, such as augmented reality (AR). AR apps enable beauty companies to create and design more immersive experience services. This study aims to highlight consumers’ perspectives on their continued desire to use AR app services.

A comparative study between China and South Korea was conducted with sample sizes of 458 and 315, respectively. Smart PLS was used for analysis.

The findings suggest that AR apps influence innovative consumers in China and South Korea to be satisfied with and continue to use such services. Previous research on technology acceptance model, information system success, AR and artificial intelligence (AI)-context-specific variables supported the findings.

This study contributes to the development of AR apps for beauty brands, as such technology revolutionizes how beauty brands work and grow. As a result, AR apps can pave the way for brands to provide an immersive experience to their customers.

The current study contributes to AR and AI drivers in the context of beauty brands by using novel technologies such as AR. AR integration with AI-context-specific variables indicates that consumers in China and South Korea are innovative and accept such technologies when purchasing beauty products online.

This short paper reports on the fourth seminar in a seven-seminar series entitled, “Innovative Technologies for Autism: Critical Reflections on Digital Bubbles”, funded by the UK Economic and Social Research Council. The purpose of this paper is to consider in more depth the technologies being developed and used in the autism field, and to critically reflect on their relative benefits and potential pitfalls.

Presentations from key researchers and practitioners are reviewed, highlighting contemporary issues in the area of autism and technology. The presentations include descriptions of cutting-edge technologies as well as the role of technology in human-human interaction.

Despite its potential, technology for autism is regarded by many with some caution: technology per se cannot provide solutions to key issues in the field. However, by looking in more depth at the features of new technologies and the interactions that take place with and around them, we can begin to build up a picture of best practice around technology for autism.

This paper offers up-to-date insights from leading academics on the benefits and challenges of innovative technologies in the field of autism research and practice. Specifically, it highlights the importance of including a breadth of expertise in the design of such tools, and the need to consider technology as a means to an end, rather than an end in itself.

This paper aims to define imminent and future key aspects in innovative production machines and systems but more specifically to focus on the automation and control aspects.

The foresight analysis is based on the state‐of‐the‐art of current manufacturing technologies with a setup of key enabling features and a roadmap research.

The paper finds that more integration of current and future technology development is required to build a strong platform for various applications featured with interoperability, trust, security and protection. Autonomy and close collaboration aspects in machines remain as crucial targets for the near future. An immediate action is required on smart strategies for the design patterns and agents to enable intuitive components for high quality dynamic user interfaces. This will allow rapid configuration and adaptation to new manufacturing tasks with highly improved machine learning.

The paper describes the future of key aspects required to move the production, automation and control systems forward.